Thank you for your interest in Baywood Pony Club!
Baywood is the Olympia area chapter of the United States Pony Club. Our mission is to provide a program for youth that teaches riding, mounted sports, and the care of horses and ponies in order to develop responsibility, moral judgment, leadership and self-confidence in our members.
Baywood Pony Club uses a "curriculum based program", which means that we teach horse management skills as well as English riding on the flat, over jumps and in the open. The kids pass through levels and progress at their own speed. There are Pony club competitions, called rallies, where we send teams of 5 kids to compete against other teams in our region. Lots of our kids also go to local shows that aren't "Pony Club" shows, and we always try to encourage kids to go together to these.
How old does my child have to be to join?
Kids can join Baywood Pony Club at age 6 with a safe mount. Ideally the age of the child and the age of the horse should equal at least 18 years, when dealing with younger riders. In regards to how old can a horse be, the horse has to be 5 years before it will be accepted into pony club.
Baywood's youngest current members are 9 and our oldest member is 20.
We do not have lesson horses available, so you will need to have access to a SAFE mount that has some experience with jumping in order to participate in mounted lessons. A horse trailer is not required, but it is very difficult to participate fully if you can not transport your horse.
We meet September through June (we take off time around the holidays…it's usually such a busy time of year and too icy to drive), usually twice monthly for unmounted meetings and twice monthly for mounted lessons. We usually ride at Forest Park Equestrian Center in Hawks Prairie and meet for unmounted meetings at Forest Park Equestrian Center, as well. Unmounted meetings are on the first and second Monday evenings of the month at 6:30pm. Riding lessons are on Saturdays or Sundays, usually set about 2-3 months in advance. The lessons are usually 2-3 kids and we try to group kids by level and age. We try to keep our membership numbers at a level to sustain this lesson structure.
In the summer, we have a 4 day camp where the kids bring their horses
and camp out... two lessons a day, crafts, food, campfires, etc. This is a
huge highlight for the kids (and parents, because we hire a great guy to do
our food!!!). We get together throughout the year for social stuff like
movie nights, Mounted and Costumed Halloween Party, Christmas party, trip to
Emerald Downs, cookie parties, and whatever anyone feels like organizing.
Before joining, we do like to have the potential member meet the girls and have a
"safety check" by an instructor or board member, just so you know your tack and horse are considered "safe" and appropriate and to see at what level the potential member
should be riding.
Regarding dues: there are three components to the membership (per 2010- 2011):
A National component, with dues of $150 for new members signing up in September, a Regional component with dues of $56 per yr, and a local club dues of $125 per year.
Regarding expectations: We ask parents to:
1) be present at the lesson when your child rides or is around horses (not required if the member is over 18, but always a good idea to travel with a buddy.
2) to help with our fundraiser in May
3) to help out with at least one club function throughout the year.
4) Members are asked to have at least 50% attendance to participate in Rallies or Ratings.
If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to contact us by phone or email. We look forward to meeting you! Sincerely, Michelle Newman, DC
Some important contact information:
Baywood club website: www.baywoodponyclub.com
National website: www.usponyclub.org
Michelle Newman, DC Phone: 360-486-0119 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting e-mail: michelle.newman@comcast.net
Gabrielle England, Secretary Phone: 360-956-1017 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting e-mail: gabrielle_england@comcast.net
Kay Munson , Treasurer Phone:360-786-5641 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting f_the_skype_highlighting e-mail: kmunson@blrb.com
Baywood Pony Club uses a "curriculum based program", which means that we teach horse management skills as well as English riding on the flat, over jumps and in the open. The kids pass through levels and progress at their own speed. There are Pony club competitions, called rallies, where we send teams of 5 kids to compete against other teams in our region. Lots of our kids also go to local shows that aren't "Pony Club" shows, and we always try to encourage kids to go together to these.
How old does my child have to be to join?
Kids can join Baywood Pony Club at age 6 with a safe mount. Ideally the age of the child and the age of the horse should equal at least 18 years, when dealing with younger riders. In regards to how old can a horse be, the horse has to be 5 years before it will be accepted into pony club.
Baywood's youngest current members are 9 and our oldest member is 20.
We do not have lesson horses available, so you will need to have access to a SAFE mount that has some experience with jumping in order to participate in mounted lessons. A horse trailer is not required, but it is very difficult to participate fully if you can not transport your horse.
We meet September through June (we take off time around the holidays…it's usually such a busy time of year and too icy to drive), usually twice monthly for unmounted meetings and twice monthly for mounted lessons. We usually ride at Forest Park Equestrian Center in Hawks Prairie and meet for unmounted meetings at Forest Park Equestrian Center, as well. Unmounted meetings are on the first and second Monday evenings of the month at 6:30pm. Riding lessons are on Saturdays or Sundays, usually set about 2-3 months in advance. The lessons are usually 2-3 kids and we try to group kids by level and age. We try to keep our membership numbers at a level to sustain this lesson structure.
In the summer, we have a 4 day camp where the kids bring their horses
and camp out... two lessons a day, crafts, food, campfires, etc. This is a
huge highlight for the kids (and parents, because we hire a great guy to do
our food!!!). We get together throughout the year for social stuff like
movie nights, Mounted and Costumed Halloween Party, Christmas party, trip to
Emerald Downs, cookie parties, and whatever anyone feels like organizing.
Before joining, we do like to have the potential member meet the girls and have a
"safety check" by an instructor or board member, just so you know your tack and horse are considered "safe" and appropriate and to see at what level the potential member
should be riding.
Regarding dues: there are three components to the membership (per 2010- 2011):
A National component, with dues of $150 for new members signing up in September, a Regional component with dues of $56 per yr, and a local club dues of $125 per year.
Regarding expectations: We ask parents to:
1) be present at the lesson when your child rides or is around horses (not required if the member is over 18, but always a good idea to travel with a buddy.
2) to help with our fundraiser in May
3) to help out with at least one club function throughout the year.
4) Members are asked to have at least 50% attendance to participate in Rallies or Ratings.
If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to contact us by phone or email. We look forward to meeting you! Sincerely, Michelle Newman, DC
Some important contact information:
Baywood club website: www.baywoodponyclub.com
National website: www.usponyclub.org
Michelle Newman, DC Phone: 360-486-0119 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting e-mail: michelle.newman@comcast.net
Gabrielle England, Secretary Phone: 360-956-1017 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting e-mail: gabrielle_england@comcast.net
Kay Munson , Treasurer Phone:360-786-5641 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting f_the_skype_highlighting e-mail: kmunson@blrb.com
